The vast majority of castors can be easily recognised by certain characteristics. Some rather rare types of castors are initially puzzling - and require closer examination. The overview with the dimensions in the cover picture already gives some clues. In other articles, we show most of the types of castors that can still be found today in detail.
Even the layman can quickly recognise which type of music roll is involved. The paper width and the roll sides are the most important clues - in addition to the labelling of the roll. The music roll boxes do not always contain what is labelled on them. Rolls were labelled differently during the manufacturing process. And in collections, rolls have occasionally been placed in the wrong boxes. So it is always advisable to check the roll itself, not just the boxes.
In Germany today, standard music rolls from the manufacturers Hupfeld, Philipps, SM, Aeolian and others predominate. Reproduction rolls are very rare. Each manufacturer has solved the construction style of the music rolls individually - here too, in addition to trying to find unique selling points, it was also a matter of circumventing existing patents. The rolls differed in practically all aspects, i.e. the paper selection and processing, the choice of spool core and flanks, the design of the start of the roll, the punching shape (hole diameter from 1.5mm for DUCA to 2.7mm for DEA), the paper width, the cardboard design and labelling etc..
There were a large number of music roll manufacturers, as this was a very lucrative business for a time. In addition, instrument manufacturers sometimes marketed the music rolls of certain manufacturers under their own brand name (e.g. Broadwood rolls based on Aeolian or Hupfeld) and Hupfeld has a large number of roll type variations for the various products such as Clavitist, Phonoliszt, Universal etc. etc.. Every music roll is worth keeping - even if they may no longer fetch a significant price in monetary terms.
If you have music rolls to offer or know of rolls for sale, please let us know.
